Airplanes eeom and upon suspended



April 12, 1927. 7 1,624,188

I R. SIMON DEVICE FOR LAUNCHING AND LANDING AIRPLANES FROM AND UPON SUSPENDED POSITIONS Filed June 1 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 yms nice 1%Zrf5imam April ,12, 1927; 1,624,188

R. SIMO DEVICE FOR LAUNCHING AND LANDING AIRPLANES FROM AND UPON SUSPENDED POSITIONS Filed June 15. 1925 2 Shear-Shoot 2 46 65 gwuemtoz FaJerfSLbMm faten'ted Apr. 12, 192?.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT SIMON, OF FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAWRENCE SPERRY AIRCRAFT COMPANY, OF FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR LAUNCHING AND LANDING AIRPLANES FROM AND UPON SUSPENDED POSITIONS.

Application filed June 13, 1925.

This invention relates to means whereby aircraft may be landed upon or launched from suspended positions. Miore particularly this invention relates to means whereby an aircraft may be landed upon or launched fronii some other aircraft, such as a dirigible balloon, etc.

The invention is in the nature of an immovement of the launching and landing dcviee disclosed in the application of Lawrence B. Sperry, Serial #571,252 filed June 27, 1922, assigned to the same assignee as this invention and the broader claims being reserved for said prior application.

In said application, the aircraft was adapted to engage a member in the form of a trapeze bar suspended from a supporting aircraft. There is, however, danger espeeially where the airplane, which is to be suspended, is travelling at high speed that damage to the suspension apparatus may result even where the cushioning and recoil means, d.es-::-ribed in said application, are employed. vit is the principal object of this invention, therefore, to provide safety means whereby engagement of the aircraft to be suspended on the supporting means can take place only when the said aircraft is travelling within certain predetermined speed limits, relative to the speed of the supporting craft, or stated a different way, engagement will take plate only when the aircraft to be suspended strikes the suspension mechanism with less than a certain predetermined force. hen this force is exceeded my invention provides safety means whereby the aircraft is automatically released from the suspension means so that no engagement takes place.

It is a further object of my invention to provide suitable locking means for the sus pended. aircraft to prevent accidental or unintentional disengagement thereof from its suspended position.

A. further object of my invention is the provision of suspension means having shock absorbing means for taking up the shock incident to the engagement of the aircraft with the said suspension mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following description thereof.

In the accompanying drawings-- Fig. 1 is a perspective View, with parts Serial No. 36,776.

broken away, showing one aircraft suspended from a second aircraft, the suspension mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail giving a front elevation of a shock absorbing means formmg part of the construction ofthe suspension mechanism. i

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the mecha nism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. l is an enlarged detail view showing the engaging mechanism on the aircraft about to engage the supporting bar of the suspension mechanism.

.ll'jig. is a view similar to Fig. 4; and showing the parts when the aircraft is fully engaged by the suspension mechanism. I

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4L and but showing the operation of the engaging mechanism when the aircraft is travelling at above a predetermined speed relative to the suspension means or when the engaging means on said aircraft strikes the suspension means with greater than a predetermined force.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the suspension means disclosed in Figs. f to 6.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l discloses a heavier-than-air craft 10 engaging a suspension indicated generally at 11 suspended from some supporting means, which in this instance, is shown as the carriage 12 of a dirigible. It will be understood that for the purposes of my invention the suspension mechanism 11 may be supported from any other suspended position, as for example from a. balloon or from a second heaviertha11-aircraft or from a mooring mast. The suspension may be in the form of a trapeze including an elongated member 15 pivoted upon the support at 16 so as to be free to s vmg about said pivot and provided at its lower end with a cross bar or trapeze bar 17 adapted to be engaged by the craft to be supported.

Saaid trapeze bar 17 may be surrounded by a rubber casing or tube 17 and is resiliently supported within a frame shown in Fig. so that it is capable of moving in the direction of travel of the craft 10. The said support may comprise the frame 18 suitablv braced at 19 and having resilient guide members 20 within which operates the said bar 17. Said bar is supported upon the lower rung 21 of said frame 18 and within the guides: 20 by resilient members 22,

held by a member 23 fixed to rung 21, so as to tend to maintain said bar in the central portionot' bar Ql and against vertical movement, =-It will be apparent that-when-the anism. The bar-1.7 mayabeheld against axial movement-in any suitable manner as by flanges 24. The resihent bands 20 and 22 may held'a'gainst movement axially of bar 17 b means such as fian esm25 while d i b 7 the bands 20 may be prevented from slipping-Hoff the frame-by means such as metal extensions 26, 27 connected by straps 28.

Thegengaging means carried by the aircraft [maybe to a certain extentsimilar to thathd-isclosed in the said Sperry application in that it is provided with a guide member 530 supported-on the body of the craft and having a member projecting torwardly over the fan to prevent said propellervian from striking the suspension mechanism. The craft 10 is so directed'that the guide 30 strikes-the suspension mechanism at, preferably, the trapeze bar 17, so

thatthe latter is guided upwardly there along until it engages, a hook 31 forming an EXCGDSLOIL of said guide30. The hook 31, however, is not fixedly connected to the guide 30 butv is pivotally mounted about a pivotal axis 32 so that if the force with which" hook 31 engages bar 17 is: in excess or a predeterminedidegree, the said hook can swing.rearwardly to disengage the supporting mechanism; This is accomplished by the following SlllllCbLll'B.

The hook 31 is connected to the fixed pivotal axis -32 by a coilsspring 33 which normally maintains the hook in the position shown in Figfi l. Saidhook 81 is main-* tainedin the said normal; position by the coil spring 33 and isqlockedxin said position by two--locking pa-wls, a. positive locking pawl-35 and: a cam l'ocking pawlr36 engaging in a slot 37 formed in said hook 31. The: cam lockingpawlSS forms one arm of a bellcrank"38 to the other arm of which pawl'36 in said'slotwith an adjustable tension.-:Positive pawl 35 is pivoted at 4:3 and has pi-voted to its other'end, one end of link" 44-. which isiconnected to va bell' crank 45, the

other: arinof "which; is. in the form of a trigger-l6 normally extending upwardly into the path of travel of bar 1T intosaid book as shown in Fig. 5. A spring normally maintains the said trigger in its upward position and-at thesame time maintains the positive locking pawl'35 within said slot 37. it will thus be apparent that when trigger a6 is depressed due to the passing of trapeze bar 17 thereover, locking pawl 35 will be withdrawn from the slot 37 until said bar 1.7

has passed overt-said trigger. Then said trigger will rise behind bar 11 to enclose said barin said hook and the locking pawl 35 will again engage the slot 17 to prevent rearward movement of theihook o1.

When the trapeze bar 17 has been engaged by hooki-Bl accidental withdrawal of locking pawl 35 may be preventediby the operator actuating a handle (30 tor moving upwardly a detent 61,-normally pressed downwardly to inoperative position by spring 62, said detent (S1 engaging behind link 44 to prevent rearward movementthereof.

The mechanism hereinl'ie'tore described will preyent engagement of the c'a'lt 10 with the suspension mechanism when the craft is travelling at a speed which would cause it to strike the said suspension mechanism with too great a force. This operation may be described as follows: The locking pawl 35 has a certain distance to travel before engaging the slot 3?. There is, however, very little free play between trapeze bar 17 andthe trigger lb and hook 3 It the crattlO is travelling at too great a speed, hook 31 will strike bar 17 with such great force as to swing the hook back in a counterclockwise direction (in the figures) to cam the cam pawl 36 out of the slot 37 before positive pawl 35 has reached the said ,SlOt. Slot37, therefore, passes beyond the locking pawl as shown in Fig. (i so that hook 31 is free to rotate relative to bar 17 until said bar has passed beyond said hook. Coil spring33' then returns the parts to their normal position shown in Fig. 5\Vll l1()llll.'ll()\\'- ever, engaging the trapezebar.

said trapeze bar is held against disengage l .nient by the two locking pawls, the trigger 4-6 and the detentbl. In order to release the craft 1O from-the suspension, it is only necessary for the operator to actuate handle to withdraw pawl (31 and then actuate a second handle to swing the trigger -l-,(i downwardly out of the path of bar 17. The latter movement will. of course, also withdraw the positive locking pawl 35 and the weight of craft '10 will then be suilicicnt to swing hook 01 about its pivot 32 and cam outwardly the cam detent 36 to permit the craft 10 to disengage the said bar .17 as shown in Fig. 6.

i In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havcherein described the principle and operation of my invention, together withthe apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also\ while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered. and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

l'l aving described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the C()l'l'1l)lllt1l7l0l1 of means for sup' porting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging aid supporting means during flight, and means whereby said last-named means is rendered inetieclive when the force of engagement of said aircraft with said supporting means is in excess of a. predetermined degree.

In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for supporting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging said supporting means during flight, and means including delayed-action means whereby said lastnamed means 's rendered li'lQ'i'IQClllYG when the force of engagement of said aircraft with said supporting means is in excess of a 1iredetermined. degree,

3. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for supporting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging said supporting means during flight, and means including a yielding mounting for said engaging means \vherebv said last-named means rendered ineffective when the force of engagement of said aircraft with said supporting means is in excess of a predetermined. degree.

l. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for supporting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging said supporting means during flight, means for locking said supporting means in said engaging means, and means for rendering said last-nan'ied means ineffective when the force of engagei'nent of said aircraft with said supporting means is in excess of a predetermined degree.

In a device for laimching and landing airplanes. the combination of means for supporting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging said supporting means during flight, a yielding mounting for said engaging means, and means normallv holding said engaging means against yielding movement.

6. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the. combination of means for sup porting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging said sup 'iorting means during flight, a yielding mounting for said engagingmeans, and means normally opposing with a predetermined force yielding of said engaging means but adapted to permit yielding thereof when said aircraft engages said supporting means with a force exceeding said predetermined. force.

7. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for sup porting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging said supporting means during flight, a yielding mounting for said engaging means, and means normally opposing with a predetermined force yielding of said engaging means but adapted to permit yielding thereof when said aircraft engages said supporting means with a foice exceeding said lncdetermined force, said last-named means including a cam detent, said engaging means having a slot for receiving said detent and a spring for maintaining said detent in said slot with said predetermined force.

8. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for supporting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging said supporting means during flight, a yielding i'i'iounting for said engaging means, means norn'ially opposing with a predetermined torce yielding of said engaging means but adapted to permit yielding thereof when said aircraft engages said supporting means with a force exceeding said predetermined force, said lastnamed means including a cam detent. said engaging means having a slot for receiving said detent, a spring for maintaining said detent in said slot with said predetermined force, and means whereby the tension of said spring may be varied to vary said force.

9. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for sup porting an airplane, means carried by raid airplane for engaging said supporting means during flight, a yielding mounting for said engaging means, and a positive lock and a yielding lock for normally holding said engaging means against yielding movement.

10. In a device for lain'iching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for supporting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging said supporting means during flight, a mounting for said engaging means capable'of yielding to a sufficient degree to release said supporting means. and means whereby yielding of said moimting is opposed by a predetermined force.

11. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for supporting an airplane, means carried by tit) SQICLLEVI-I'PIHHGJ for en aging saidsupporting means duri'ing flight, means whereby y1eld-. mg of sald mounting 1S, opposed by a predetermined force, and meanswwhereby said torcemay-be varied.

12. In a device tor launching and land-- ing airplanes, the combination oi means forsupporting an airplane,-1neanscarried by said: airplane-tor engaging, said supporting means during flight, means whereby yielding iQi said mounting-is opposed by a predetermined force,- a positive lock for normally holding said engaging means against ieldin :movement,-and means whereb said h 1 means during flight, means whereby yield ing of said mounting opposed-by a prede termined force, apositive locl: tor normally holding saidaengaging means against yielding movement, means whereby-said positive locle is rendered ine'tiective by the act of en gagement of said engaging'means with said supporting means, and (lelayed-action means whereby said lock is operated toward etl ective positionaftersaid engagement etlected.

1-1. In a device for launching and landing airplancs,-the combination of means for supporting an airplane, means carried by saidairplane for engaging said supporting moans during flight, means whereby yield ing of said mounting is opposed by a prede tier-mined force, a positive lock for normally holding said engaging means against yieldmeans/with said- L)1'e determined force main: tains said lock ineffective."

15. In a device't'or launching and landing airplanes, the combination ofmeans for supporting an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engaging said supporting means I during flight, a yicldingmonnting for said engaging means, means whereby yieldingo't saidmonnting isopposed by a predetermined force, a positive loclr'l'orinormally holding said engaging means,againstyielding movement, and manual means whereby said lock may be actuated to ineffectiveposition.

16. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for sup-- porting an airplane, means carried by said airplane tor engaging said supporting means engaging means, means whereby: yielding of said mounting isiopposed by. a predeterminedu force, a positivealockzfor normallyholding:a

said engaging meansagainst yielding movement', manual means whereby said lock-may be actuated toineifeotive position, and means tor-preventing :lCtlltltIOIlOf said lock to ineflectlve positlon.

17. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means "for supporting: an airplane, means carried by said airplane for engz 'ging said supporting means during flight, means whereby yielding (it said mounting is opposed by a predetermined it'orce, a positive lock tor normally holding said engaging means against yielding movement, means whereby said positive lock is rendered. ineffective by the act of engagement of said engaging means with said supporting means, delayed-action 1 means whereby said lock is operated toward efliective position after said engagement is efliected, and manually operable means tor-preventing renderingsaid positive lock inett'ective.

18. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the COHlbiIlfttlOl] of means for sup 'iorting an airplane, a pivotally mounted hook carried by said airplane for engaging said supporting means and movable to effective and ineffective. positions, and means tor opposing with a predetermined force the movement of said hook to ineffective position.

i. 19. In a device for launching and land ing airplanes, the combination o't means for supporting an airplane, a latch carried by said airplane and operable to eflective and ineffective positions, means normally maintaining said latehin etlective position, and' means whereby said-latchis actuated to ineltective position in response to a predetermined torce applied to said latch by said supporting means.

20. In a device for launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means for supporting an airplane, a latch'carried by said airplane and operable to engaging and disengaging positions, means normally 1naintaining said latch in engaging position; and

means whereby said latch-is operated-to dis-- engaging position in response'to a P1'C(l(i'(-l minediorce of engagement of said latch with said supportingmeans.

21. In a device tor launching and landing airplanes, the combination of means tor supporting an airplane, a latch carried by said airplane and operable to effective and Hit) taining said latch in effective position, and a means whereby said latch is actuated to ineffective position 1n response to a predeter-- mined i'orce applied to saidlatch by said supporting means, said last-named meansineluding positive locking means normally engaging said latch to prevent movement thereof to ineffective position, means Whereby said locking means is rendered ineiiective by said supporting means, delayed-action means whereby said supporting means is adapted to release said locking means after engagement of said supporting means with said latch, and means whereby engagement of said supporting means and said latch With said predetermined force maintains said locking means ineffective.

22. In a device lor launching and landmg aircraft, the combinatlon of means for 15 supporting an aircraft, said means including a yielding member, and yielding means carried by said aircraft for engaging said member and capable of yielding to a degree sufficient to release said supporting means.

In a device for launching and landing aircraft, tae combination of means for supporting an aircraft, said means including a shock absorbing member, and yielding means carried by said aircraft for engaging said member and capable of yielding to a degree suflicient to release said supporting means.

In testimony whereof I have ai'fixed my signature.

ROBERT SIMON. 

